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Brenton Cox Jr. NFL Draft Profile
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Brenton Cox Jr. Scouting ReportBrenton can play the defensive end position in a 4-3 formation or 3-4 OLB. He has played with his hand in the ground and standing up during his short college football career. At 6’4″ and 250 pounds, he is a little in-between the ideal size for both positions. However, Cox has demonstrated the ability to drop back into coverage that will be required at the next level. As a result, he best projects to play OLB in the NFL. Cox possesses an impressive first step and exhibits decent explosion at the line of scrimmage. He won’t win many foot races, but the first step and burst allow him to get a jump at the line of scrimmage. Additionally, Cox shows examples of good footwork and lateral agility. This is on display with his spin moves, one of the tools he has in his pass-rush arsenal. That toolbox also contains a potent bull rush. Cox presents excellent upper body strength and leg drive, which allows him to push back most offensive tackles with apparent ease. His impressive arm length is also another reason why he can be so successful with his bull rush. Furthermore, his strength is evident as a tackler, demonstrating force when attempting to take down the ball carrier. |
Areas for ImprovementAt this moment in his football development, I would question some elements of Cox’s play recognition. There were multiple examples in the games studied (Georgia, Missouri, Texas A&M) where he explodes off the line, commits to taking down his man — whether it be the running back or quarterback — and is still executing a play on his target while the actual ball carrier is some 30 yards down the field. Showcasing a better ability to read the play will increase production. Cox doesn’t appear to be particularly flexible in terms of bending around the edge. He wins with his bull rush, spin move, and displays an impressive double-hand swipe but doesn’t show the ability to impact the outside track. As the NFL trends towards more athletic and bendy edge rushers, this could affect the Florida OLB’s 2022 NFL Draft stock. |
Brenton Cox Jr. Career at FloridaAs a true freshman in 2018, Cox played in 13 games for the Bulldogs. Although not the groundbreaking performance you might expect from a five-star recruit, he still contributed 20 tackles and 3 pass breakups. Furthermore, during his first career start against Texas in the Sugar Bowl, he set a then-career-high of 6 tackles. The future appeared bright. Due to NCAA transfer regulations, Cox had to sit out the 2019 season - Yet, when Cox finally made it to the field, he made an immediate impact. In the season opener against Ole Miss, the Florida OLB racked up a career-high 8 tackles, which included 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack. Additionally, he added the first of 2 pass breakups that would take his career total to 5 heading into his redshirt-junior season. After earning second-team All-SEC honors last season, Cox enters the upcoming season on the watchlist as one of the top pass rushers in the nation. But can he break the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft? Right now, it seems like a Day 2 selection is more likely. Still, the Georgia native has an entire season as the defensive leader to elevate his stock before Roger Goodell puts teams on the clock in Las Vegas. |
Brenton Cox Jr. NFL Draft Player ProfileOverwhelming short-armed tackles with his great length is Cox’s calling card. He is able to create knockback consistently off the ball and uses his leg drive to push blockers into the pocket. His long arm is strong, allowing him to twist vertical pads and open the outside track. Cox beats lunging tackles with his double hand swipe, possessing the ankle flexibility to turn the corner after defeating the block. In the run game, he sets a strong edge against tight ends and has the physicality to enforce his will and disengage. Cox times the snap well and gets his long arms into throwing lanes to bat down the occasional pass. He is a solid tackler after winning his gap. |
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